Anktealingrbox



P. E. HUNTER.

ANNEALING BOX.

APPLICATION F|LED APR. 15. 1918,

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

FlllE.

INVENTOR PERCY E. HUNTER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ANN EALING-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 11919.

Application fil ed April 15, 1918. Serial No. 228,789.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERCY E. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new .and useful Improvements in An nealin'g-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in annealing boxes adapted for the usual uses of uch devices, and is particularly intended for use in annealing sheet metal used in the manufacture of tin plate.

In the use of such boxes, they are subject to the severe action of continuous heat at high temperatures, and especially to the cutting or deteriorating action of the flames of the annealing oven. These conditions result in rapid destruction of any abrupt projecting portions of the box which may happen to be in the path ofthe gase of combustion, for which reason it is desirable to maintain over the entire several surfaces of 4 .members of which the bdx is made, and the present invention is designed to provide a Fig. 2 is a similar view after welding;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a modified arrangement, locating the welded joint adjacent to one of the corners, instead of at the middle of the side or end;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in vertical section and elevation, of the complete annealing b5ox, indicated'by the line IVIV of Fig. 5 is a plan View of the complete box;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of the upper corner showing a riveted joint; and

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged sectional detail views of the main wall, showing the steps of the welding operation in' bringing the joint to finished shape.

In making the main body portion of the annealing box, I cut a blank of plate metal of suitable thickness and size so that when bentinto form for use, it will approximate a rectangle having the back 2, ends 3, 3, and the front composed of the end portions of the plate 4, 4, overlapping at 5, as shown in Fig. 1. I

The overlap is of suflicient width, when these portions are adjusted, to insure ample construction in which these objections are avoided, while maintaining a maximum strength, resistance to deterioration, rigidity, and efiicien'cy throughout the structure.

Generally stated, the improvement consists in providing the main body portion, 6. e., the sides and ends, of a'continuous uninterrupted integral wall of uniform thickness, and a top portion connected therewith,

in such a manner as to present a series of outer surfaces to the' action of the oven heat, in the absence of any objectionable vaone for the top portion, as hereinafter dea scribed. I

In the drawings-which show one preferred embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 1 is a view in cross section of the ide and end forming blank before welding,

to forin the joint about midway of one of the sides orends;

contacting area of the plates for a good welded joint. In order toprovide ample stock for spreading outwardly of the meeting ends in making the joint, the ends 3 are, in the process of manufacture, brought 'iuwardly a suflicient distance so that when the material is stretched in making the weld, the ends will assume a position at right angles to the sides, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, when completed, the box will be of the form shown in Fig. 2 composed of the back 2, ends 3, 3, and continuous integral front 44-4-. The corners are rounded, as shown, for good construction.

In welding the overlapping meeting ends of the front portions 4, 4, they are brought together as in Fig. 7, and are then swaged down under a hammer, die, press, or other means, the meeting welded faces assuming a diagonal line b with the opposite corner portions of the overlapping ends gradually merged into thegeneral plane of the main front plate, inside and out, as at 0, c, Fig. 8. The welding pressure is continued until the projecting portions are flattened into the planes of the inner and outer surfaces, asin Fig. 9, by which operation the welded olnt is increased, the rectangular symmetry of the box is assumed, and the sides and ends are formed to compose a continuous substantially rectangular piece of homogeneous metal.

It is not, of course, absolutely essential that the exact planes of the inner and .outer surfaces be approximated throughout, except at the inner upper flanged portion of the box, for continuous engagement of the top.

The top 6is made of a single piece of pressed plate metal having a middle upwardly arching dome portion and a surrounding outwardly extending attaching edge portion 7. The top is of a suitable size to fit and bear by such edge portion inwardly against upper terminal inwardly turned edges 8 of the box, as in Fig. 4, when complete.

The inwardly turned upper edge portion of the main box is formed by suitable dies and pressing mechanism to provide the terminal retaining edge 8 which is bent inwardly, as shown, to give a good under bearing seat for the corresponding upper face of the terminal edge portion of the top. The

upwardly extending central dome portion of the top 6 extends outwardly and somewhat above such contacting portions, and" when located in position, the meeting edge portions are welded together all around and the parts are made practically integral. If preferred, the top may be flat.

If preferred, the edge 7 of the top may be riveted to the inwardly turned flange or edge 8 of the box, as indicated in Fig. 6, either with or without the welding operation, thereby insuring a solid substantial joint. In each case, th'e'top 'is fixedly retained in position, and the parts being integral and substantially homogeneous when welded, form a continuous construction throughout. 1

By either construction, 2'. 6., either welded or riveted, and with one side orend of the box welded in the manner described, I provide continuous, smooth, unobstructed surfaces at all points so that there is no opportunity for the flame of the annealing furnace to attack any projecting portion, thus preventing wasting or weakening at any such points.

By bending over the top edge portion of the main box structure, providing a retaining flange, and by insertingthe top from within so that its surrounding edge portion bears directly against such inwardly turned edge or flange, I avoid any outer projection and present a smooth, even surface with ample reinforcement and strength Also, by such construction, because of the upwardly extending inner edge of the outer wallfianges,"as shown, I provide a surrounding crevice or gutter 9 or 9 adapted to be filled with sand, clay or othersuitable packing material, as is commonly done for closing of leaks.

The box is provided with lifting lugs or buttons 10 at any suitable locations, preferably having shouldered and countersunk riveted connection with the opposite sides of the box, as indicated at 11, thus facilitating easy and cheap renewal of these parts, when broken or Worn.

In making the welded joint 4; it is preferably located at a position between'the corners, either at the side or end of the box. It

may be made at the middle as in Figs. 1 and 2, or at one side of the middle, as in Fig. 3. With either construction I avoid joining the side and end of the box at the corner, thereby preventing any weakening of the corner which thus maintains the original integral continuity of the plate. This is a feature of very considerable advantage over prior constructions having corner joints of various kinds, which are subject to the weakening or destructive effect of the heat or other 1. An annealing box composed of a plate metal body portion having inwardly turned upperedges, and a top having a continuously integral middle body portion and a laterally extending edge portion engaging underneath and secured to said upper edges.

2. An annealing box composed of a plate metal body portion having inwardly turned upper edges, and a top having a continuously integral middle body portion and a laterally extending edge portion engaging underneath and secured to said upper edges, and providing an inner sand holding groove around the inner bottom portion of the inwardly turned upper edges.

3. An annealing box composed of a plate metal body portion having inwardly turned upper edges, and a to having an upwardly bowed middle portion and a laterally extending edge portion engaging underneath said upper edges. I

4; An annealing box composed of a plate metal body portion having inwardly turned upper edges, and a top having an upwardly bowed middle portion and a laterally extending edge portion engaging underneath and secured to said upper edges.

5-. An annealing box composed of a rectang'ula-r plate metal body portion formed of a continuous blank having its ends overously smooth under portion, and a top havlapping and welded together by a swaged ing a laterally extending edge portion endown overlapping joint substantially unigaging underneath and secured to the under 10 form with the normal thickness of the plate side of said top flange portion.

5 and having a continuous surrounding simi- In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my larly formed inwardly turned top flange signature. portion of uniform thickness and continu- PERCY E. HUNTER. 

